A Little Motherly Love Chapter Four (08/24/98 last revised) by Celeste Byrd ===== Ranma 1/2 is copyrighted 1998 by Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan Inc. and anyone else who rightfully owns the copyrights. This fanfic is solely for entertainment purposes and NOT for monetary benefit. Please don't sue me. Any similarities with other fanfics are purely coincidental unless stated otherwise. This fanfic was inspired by Wade Tritschler's Altered Destinies series, and he has given me permission to use the title. Questions, comments, ideas, suggestions, and constructive criticism are always welcome. Please read the previous chapter(s) to understand the storyline. () Depicts character actions, emotions, sounds "" Denotes changes in the voice or quotes from other characters [] Translates thoughts <> Chinese dialogue ===== R A N M A 1 / 2 A L I T T L E M O T H E R L Y L O V E An Altered Destiny Voice: SAOTOME RANMA, PREPARE TO DIE!!! Ranma: Wha-? SCENE: Ranma-chan leaps out of the way to avoid the aerial assault. The mysterious figure lands on the ground and tries to disembowel her, but Ranma-chan simply ducks the metal object. She sidesteps the next thrust and vaults back, defensive stance ready. Then, as mysteriously as the figure appeared, it jumped onto a nearby fence and ran away. Ranma-chan briefly wondered if she should follow when Akane runs up to her. Akane: What was that?! Ranma-chan: I don't really know. [The style seems familiar though. I wonder where I saw it before.] Akane: What do you mean you don't know?! That person tried to kill you! You could of at least seen their face! Ranma-chan: Right. I'll just search all of Tokyo for a face with a grey cloth over it. I'm sure the person won't take it off for a few days. I mean, a covered face is sure not going to be inconspicuous in a public area, especially on a warm day like this. Akane: (getting angrier than usual) So why "didn't" you follow?! Ranma-chan: I was being sarcastic. There's no point in running after 'im. He's more likely to return and try again. [If it "is" a he. Hard to tell with that clothing.] Anyway, were you worried about me? Akane: WHAT?! Worried about a pervert like you?! Ranma-chan: (shaking her head) There you go again. Why don't you just drop it? It's very annoying to be called names, especially when they're not true. Akane: Why should I? You turn into girl half the time. You probably like looking at yourself in the mirror! Ranma-chan: (sighing) Will you ever grow up? The curse ain't my fault! Akane: So it's your mother's? Is that it? You like to blame your problems on other people? Ranma-chan: Don't bring my mom into this. It's not her fault either. Anyway, why are you always so angry? Doesn't it tire you? Akane: Mind your own business! Ranma-chan: And you mind yours. Being a martial artist ain't just brute strength and self defense, it's about control and discipline. If you really want to become good at the art, I really suggest you open your mind up a bit. Akane: I "was" good at the art, and then you came along! Ranma-chan: Really? I suppose beating up on misguided boys everyday at school who don't stand a chance against you is proof of your skill? (realizing something) Yeah, I was kinda wondering about that. Why "do" they fight you everyday? Akane: (anger now directed to someone else) It was that idiot Kunou... FLASHBACK: Kunou {{AKANE CAN ONLY BE TAKEN OUT IF YOU DEFEAT HER! I WILL PERMIT NO OTHER TERMS!}} Ranma-chan: So now they attack you to try to go out with you? (pause) Am I right in assuming Kunou tries every morning? Akane: (remembering how Kunou fought against Ranma) And for some reason I always win! Ranma-chan: Well, when a guy fights a girl, he lets up a lot. Akane: Don't underestimate me! Try me for real sometime! Ranma-chan: No way. Violent or not, I can't fight a girl. It's not right. Akane: You fight with your mom everyday... Ranma-chan: That's training. Besides, if my dad were still here, I'd be training with him. Akane: .... Ranma-chan: Anyway, is there any hot water around here? I forgot to bring a thermos. Akane: Why don't you just wait until you get home? Ranma-chan: To be honest with ya, I don't like being in girl form any longer than necessary. I've gotten used to the curse, but I still don't like it. Akane: ... Yeah, okay. There's a clinic nearby. ===== Lady: Hot water? Just a moment, Akane dear. Akane: Thank you very much. SCENE: While Ranma-chan is waiting for Akane to come out, a hand taps her on the back. Whirling around, she notices the hand to belong to a skeleton. Ranma-chan: YAAA!! Man: (holding skeleton) Oh, pardon me. Nothing to worry about dear! This is just Betty, my skeleton. Ranma-chan: .... Akane: Ranma, here's the hot... (noticing the man) Oh! Doctor Tofu! Er, good afternoon! (plants the kettle on Ranma-chan's head) Dr. Tofu: Oh hello Akane! Good afternoon! No new injuries, I hope? Akane: (blushing slightly) No sir... I mean, I haven't done anything that would... Ranma: (pouring the contents of the kettle on his head around the corner) Interesting. Akane likes him, huh? SCENE: A few minutes later, Akane comes around the corner with him. They both start walking home. Ranma: Who was that? Akane: That was Doctor Tofu, the chiropractor. Ranma: Martial arts master too, is he? Akane: Huh? How could you tell? Ranma: [Sneaking up on me like that. He erased all sense of his presence.] I had a feeling. Akane: Yes, he's very good. He doesn't look like it though, does he? Ever since I was little, he's taken care of my injuries. Ranma: You get injured a lot? Akane: .... Ranma: Anyway, isn't he a man? Akane: Yes, so? Ranma: Well, don't you hate men? Akane: ... No! I... hate... (punts Ranma away) BOYS! Ranma: (disappearing into the sky) Why did'ya do "that" for?! ===== SCENE: Sunday afternoon. Ranma-kun steps into the Tendou household, rubbing his cheek from impacting with the ground. Kasumi greets him from the kitchen. Kasumi: Welcome home, Ranma-kun! Ranma: (somewhat cheerfully) Hey, Kasumi. Need help with anything? Kasumi: No, not right now. Thank you for offering though! Ranma: No problem. Hey, do you know where my mom is? Kasumi: (thinking for a moment) Why yes! She said she went out for some groceries. Ranma: Where's your dad? Kasumi: Oh, he's gone to buy some more sake. He drank his entire cache of it last night. Ranma: Why? Kasumi: I think he was happy for you supporting the engagement. Ranma: [I did not support anything!] Thanks. Um, do you know where Akane or Nabiki might be? Kasumi: Nabiki said she had some business to take care of, and Akane said she was going to visit some friends. Ranma: [Good. I don't think I'd be able to handle them right now.] SCENE: Ranma wanders around the house, not knowing what to do. His wandering leads him to the practice hall, where he finds all the musical instruments from last night laying around. He picks up instruments at random and drops them carefully on the mat again. After a while he picks up a violin and leaps onto the roof. He tunes the strings and then proceeds to play the melody of "Pacabel Canon." After a while, he gets bored of it and jumps back down. Laying down the instrument in the dojo, he heads towards the kitchen. Ranma: I'm hungry. I wonder if Kasumi has anything to eat. ===== SCENE: Kasumi is busy cooking dinner and reading a book she had borrowed from the library. She reads a page and stirs at the same time. When she turned a page she would check the pan opposite the pot she was stirring. After a while she gets so absorbed in her book that she doesn't notice the food in the pan starting to burn. As soon as she smells the smoke however, she quickly puts down the book and tries to get the meal under control. In her haste, the book knocks over a bottle of cooking oil, which starts to ooze all over the floor. Kasumi is too busy with the pan that she doesn't notice. Of course, once she takes a step, she begins to slip. Kasumi: (crying out) AAHHH!!! SCENE: Ranma walks into the kitchen. Noticing Kasumi's plight, he dashes towards her in time and catches her before she can fall. He holds her in his arms and patiently waits for her to open her eyes. Ranma: (softly) Kasumi, are you okay? Kasumi: (weakly nodding her head) .... Ranma: (noticing the spilled oil) Hey, we better clean this thing-- SCENE: Ranma puts Kasumi down and is about to get a mop when Kasumi loses her balance again on the slippery floor. There is no time to recover however, and she ends up taking Ranma down with her. She lands on top of him, Ranma bracing her fall. They both lay there for a moment, too stunned to make a move. There would have been no problem with this a minute later, Kasumi would get up and apologize to Ranma who would in turn apologize himself. Unfortunately within that minute, the entire family decides to come home and converge at the kitchen door. Nabiki: Sis? Soun: (crying tears of joy) Oh, my little girl is going to get married! Nodoka: (noticing the oil) Son? What happened here? Akane: (not noticing anything but the downed couple) RANMA, YOU BIG PERVERTED JERK! Kasumi: (getting off of Ranma and blushing deeply) .... Ranma: (blushing) Hey! It's not what it looks like! SCENE: Akane doesn't wait for an explanation as she opens the kitchen window and kicks Ranma out of it. Nodoka gives Akane a look, who has the decency to avert her gaze. Soun has already opened a bottle of sake and is downing it like there is no tomorrow. Kasumi looks a little disappointed. Nodoka: (sternly) Why did you kick my son out the window, Akane? Akane: (sheepishly) But he was coming on to my sister! Nodoka: I don't know what goes on inside your mind, but what I saw was a little accident. If it were not for my son, your sister would have an apron drenched with cooking oil. Akane: (finally noticing the oil) Oh. I'm sorry Kasumi, Auntie. Nodoka: Sorry isn't going to help me. Try saying it to Ranma when he gets back. ===== Ranma: (staggering home, supported by a pole) Stupid... tomboy. It was an... accident Kasumi landed on... top of me. FLASHBACK: Ranma had landed through the roof of a bath house, more specifically, the female side. It must have been his auspicious luck that this group of girls happened to think men were nothing but perverted sex maniacs who deserved to be whacked in the private regions. Ranma: [Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow. You'd think Akane kicked me there on purpose. Ow.] SCENE: As he is dragging himself home, he catches sight of Nabiki coming his way. He weakly manages to wave to her. Nabiki catches sight of him and runs over. Nabiki: Ranma, what happened to you?! Ranma: I landed in a bath house. Nabiki: Ouch. Need any help getting home? Ranma: No thanks, I'll be fine. Nabiki: Okay. See you later then. Ranma: Where are you going? Nabiki: Kunou said he wanted to see me. Ranma: [I wonder what for?] ===== SCENE: Kunou and Nabiki are sitting in an ice cream parlour. Nabiki is drinking a strawberry smoothie while Kunou is searching through the pack he brought with him. A minute later he finds what he's looking for and drops it in front of Nabiki. It is a stuffed panda. Nabiki: What's this? Kunou: (blushing slightly) A present. Nabiki: (handing it back to Kunou) Not my style. Kunou: Did I say this present was for you, Tendou Nabiki? This sweet treasure I save for my Goddess in pigtails! SCENE: As Kunou is saying this, Nabiki is taking a drink of her smoothie. Once the sentence leaves Kunou's mouth, Nabiki spits out her drink in surprise. Sadly, Kunou happens to be in the way. Nabiki: Now look at what you made me do. Kunou: (fruit drink dripping down his face) What... I made you do? ===== SCENE: Monday morning, Furinkan High School. Ranma is getting ready to sit down for class when the door to the classroom opens. Standing in the door frame is one Tendou Nabiki. Akane: (looking up from her desk) Nabiki? Nabiki: (beckoning to Ranma) Hey Ranma. Kunou wants to see you. Ranma: Huh? ===== Ranma: So, you wanted me, Kunou? Kunou: That will be Sempai to you! SCENE: The two students are just outside the entrance to the high school, near a drainage pipe. Ranma looks pensive, and Kunou looks slightly angry. Kunou: Here! (drops the stuffed panda in Ranma's arms) Ranma: .... Kunou: Tell me why I must give this to you, heathen! Ranma: Say again? Kunou: Answer me! Why?! FLASHBACK: Nabiki {{If you want to give that pigtailed girl your panda, give it to Saotome Ranma.}} Kunou: ... quoth Tendou Nabiki! How do you know my pigtailed Goddess of Love?! Ranma: [....] Forget it. (tossing the bear back to Kunou) Forget her. Trust me. Kunou: What?! Ranma: If it was up to me, you'd never see... your pigtailed Goddess ever again. (walks away) Kunou: [What? What?] Ranma: [Ugh. I think I'm gonna be sick. "Pigtailed Goddess of Love" indeed.] SCENE: Ranma decides he needs to let off some steam. As he turns the corner, he is splashed with some dirty water from above. Girl: (from the window on the fourth floor) Oh sorry about that! Are you okay? Ranma-chan: .... ===== Kunou: ["... you'll never see... your pigtailed Goddess ever again"?] WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! (running around the corner Ranma disappeared to) SAOTOME RANMA!!! SCENE: Kunou looks around. There is a puddle of water on the ground, but no pigtailed boy in sight. Kunou starts to get angry. Kunou: (swiping at a convenient tree) Ranma you coward! So quick to run, are you?! Ranma-chan: (falling out of said tree) Oof! Kunou: You... You're the girl! Ranma-chan: (tightening her pants) .... Kunou: (rushing towards Ranma-chan) How I've missed y-- Ranma-chan: (planting a fist in Kunou's face) Back off, creep! Kunou: (embracing her) I shall never let you go! SCENE: The two are splashed by a kettle of hot water. Kunou looks at the source who in turn looks at Ranma-kun. Nabiki: Sorry about that, Ranma. Too hot for you? Kunou: Ranma? Ranma-kun: Okay, honey... (kicks Kunou away) Time to let go! (standing up) Do you get it now? See ya. (walks towards Nabiki) Kunou: Hold it, Saotome! Where have you hidden my Goddess?! Kunou-sempai will not be fooled by such trickery! Ranma: (after facefaulting) Listen Kunou... Nabiki: Hmm... He won't get it unless we spell it out. Ranma: Could you try, Nabiki? Nabiki: Why not. (beckoning to Kunou) Over here, Kunou-chan. You know that girl, your Goddess in the pigtails? Well... Kunou: What are you saying, Tendou Nabiki? Nabiki: Her body, and her soul, they're all his. I'm sure you know what I mean. Ranma: Er Nabiki, that wasn't a good explanation. Kunou: Ha! That is all the explanation that is needed! (swings at Ranma with his bokken, who jumps over it) TYRANT! Ranma: I don't think you've got it yet, Kunou. Kunou: That will be Kunou-sempai to you, enslaver of women! Ranma: Oh, get a grip! Kunou: I shall drive your evil influence away! I shall free all women from your demonic clutches! (continually striking out at Ranma-kun) Ranma: Oh? (catching Kunou's bokken and swinging his leg over to kick him in the side) So you'll forget her if I win? SCENE: The kick manages to dislodge some pieces of paper from Kunou's robes. Ranma catches one and begins to read it. Ranma: Hey! This is-- Kunou: YOU FOOL!!! (slashes down and cuts Ranma on the side of the ribs, drawing blood) Ranma: (falls to the ground in pain) Ugh! Kunou: (closing in for the kill) You will die! %End Chapter Four ======================================================================== %Afterword Finally after four months of having the workplace and the education system drive my arse into the ground, my schedule is starting to clear up. I used to have about five minutes a week on average for fanfic writing, and most of it was spent on Project NK-Ranma (a crossover attempt with All-Purpose Cultural Cat-Girl Nuku Nuku). Now that I have a lot more time, I can get back to writing more ALML. For the next few weeks, I'm going to devote most of my fanfic time to ALML, because a) NK-Ranma has more chapters, b) it overshadows ALML by a hefty margin, c) I feel like it, and d) I've got tons of mail asking me when the next chapter will come out. The kitchen scene of Ranma catching Kasumi's fall was inspired by Jared Ornstead's Mirrors Multiplied. A copy of it can be found at: http://studio-aesir.net/~mirrors/ Of course, when I mean inspired I mean that it gave me a similar idea. Next week, I'm going to Florida. As soon as I get back (in one week) I'll write some more ALML. Last week I went to Denmark, so I couldn't reply to any e-mail within that week. Don't worry. After Florida I won't have any vacations for at least a year.